Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections

Summary Information

Repository

Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections

Creator

Unifine Milling Company

Title

Unifine Milling Company Records

ID

Cage 691

Date [inclusive]

1949-1996

Extent

2 containers., 1.5 linear feet of shelf space.

Language

Collection materials are in English.

Abstract

The records of the Unifine Milling Company of Pullman, Washington include correspondence, photographs, and plans related to the development of the unifine process at Washington State University in addition to the company's own operating records. The collection also includes files created by Clarice McCartan, one of the shareholders of the mill. The unifine process of milling flour was the idea of an Englishman, John Wright, who brought the process to Washington State University for experimentation and further development in the late 1940s.

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Biography/History

The Unifine process of milling flour was the idea of an Englishman, John Wright. This process of milling flour produced a whole wheat flour with a lengthier period of rancid-free storage than ordinary whole wheat flour. Moreover, the flour had baking properties similar to enriched white flour. Wright approached the Washington State College Division of Industrial Research with his idea in the late 1940s, and period of experimentation with the mill soon began. The mill could not be patented, but Washington State College controlled the registration of the name "Unifine" until 1975.

One commercial application of the unifine technology was the Unifine Milling Company of Pullman. In 1981 this company began producing flour for sale to the public under the name "Flourgirls." This firm continued in operation until about 1995.

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Scope and Content

The records the Unifine Milling Co. consist both of company records (meeting minutes, correspondence, financial statements, and marketing reports), along with correspondence, photographs, and plans related to the development of the unifine mill at Washington State College. Additional Unifine Milling Company records stand separate from the larger body of records because these originally were the files of Clarice McCartan, one of the shareholders.

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Arrangement

The arrangement of the records is as three record series. Series 1 consists of records concerning the unifine mill experiments at Washington State College. Series 2 consists of records relating to Unifine Milling Company. Series 3 consists of the files of Clarice McCartan, and her involvement with Unifine Milling Co.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections  © 2012

http://www.libraries.wsu.edu/masc/

Terrell Library

P.O. Box 645610

Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA

509-335-6691

mascref@wsu.edu

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open for research use.

Acquisition Information

Records concerning the Unifine Experimental Flour Mill at Washington State College and Unifine Milling Company were donated to the Washington State University Libraries in 1998 by Eric Wegner of Pullman, manager and miller.

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Names and Subjects

Corporate Name(s)

Creator(s) :

• Unifine Milling Company--Archives

Subject(s) :

• Unifine Milling Company--Washington (State)--Pullman

Personal Name(s)

Subject(s) :

• McCartan, Clarice

Subject(s)

• Unifine flour
• Flour
• Flour mills--Washington (State)
• Flour mills--Washington (State)--Pullman--Records and correspondence
• Washington (State)
• Agriculture

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Detailed Description of Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series 1: Research and development - Unifine process
			box	folder
Unifine mill inquiries 1952-1962			1	1
Early correspondence
			box	folder
1949-1952			1	2
1952-1953			1	3
1953-1960			1	4
1949-1955			1	5
			box	folder
(RP 121/6 [original filing code]) Unifine flour mill 1950-1962			1	6
Unifine experimental mill photographs undated			1	7
Early designs 1965 1982			1	8
Resurvey 1958 1970-1971			1	9
Trademark application and information 1951-1981			1	10
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Series 2: Unifine Milling Company Records
Minutes, Board of Directors
			box	folder
1981			1	11
1982			1	12
1983			1	13
1984			1	14
1985			1	15
1986			1	16
1987			1	17
1988			1	18
1989			1	19
1990			1	20
1991			1	21
1992			1	22
1993			1	23
1995			1	24
1996			1	25
			box	folder
Manager applications Nov 1985			1	26
Manager's reports 1987			1	27
Manager's reports 1988			1	28
Artwork for flour bag undated			1	29
Expired licenses 1986-1989			1	30
Unifine Flour: Twenty Five Years Later-Mary Corbett Stevens ca 1975			1	31
Newspaper clippings 1975-1991			1	32
Feature stories (source material) 1991-1994			1	33
Unifine 1957-1982			1	34
Bindered material (Marketing, finances, minutes, correspondence) 1985-1986			1	35
Minutes, marketing, finance, correspondence, photograph of owners 1981-1985			1	36
Minutes, marketing, finance, correspondence, bylaws 1977-1984			1	37
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Series 3: Records kept by Clarise McCartan
			box	folder
Minutes: Management team, Board 1986-1989			2	38
Minutes: Management team, Board 1981-1985			2	39
Contacts for buying/distributing Flourgirls flour 1987-1991			2	40
Product information about Flourgirls flour, business cards undated			2	41
Cookbook - Draft and early ideas undated			2	42
Shareholder memos and correspondence 1981-1987			2	43
Handwritten business notes 1985			2	44
Marketing 1982			2	45
Letters to and from Clarice McCartan 1982-1987			2	46
Letters to or concerning Mary Stevens 1982-1985			2	47
Finances and Treasurer's reports 1984-1989			2	48
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Oversize items
			box	folder
Unifine Mill plans 1952			o.s.	49
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